Kaley Cuoco speaking at a Big Bang Theory forum at ComicCon in 2008. Yes, they really went there.

How awesome is that? A funny name quote delivered by a funny-named actress on one of the funniest shows ever on TV.

Kaley Christine Cuoco is a 27-year-old California-born actress who just happens to be one of the hottest things on television in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. She portrays the street smart Penny who lives in a Pasadena, CA apartment across the hall from a pair of nerdy brainiacs from Cal Tech . Along with Jim Parsons, who plays the scientifically brilliant but socially and culturally clueless Dr. Sheldon Cooper, she makes the show what it is–the highest rated sitcom on US network television. In my humble (and geeky) opinion it’s one of the best network comedies ever. It’s now in its 6th season and has been renewed for a 7th.

Cuoco made her big time acting debut at the tender age of ten alongside Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in the movie Virtuosity. At 16 she took on a starring role in the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules. But it is as Penny in The Big Bang Theory that she has really hit the big time–not just the Hollywood big time, but the funny name big time as well. After all, besides her own name, she works with some funny named characters played by equally funny named actors including Amy Farrah Fowler (played by Mayim Bialik), Rajesh Koothrapali (Kunnal Nayyar) and Howard Walowitz (Simon Helberg). But the icing on the funny name cake has to be the quote at the top of the this post, in which she was referring to real life Nobel physics laureate George Smoot.

In one of my favorite scenes in season 1, Cuoco delivers what I consider to be maybe the best line in the entire history of the show. It comes near the end of the 4 minute scene linked here. Even her outtakes can be hilarious–see the Season 5 highlights here.

15 Responses to Kaley Cuoco

Kaley Cuoco. That is fun to say. Always the mark of a true funny name. I remember her from the John Ritter show 8 Simple Rules – I’ve never actually watched Big Bang Theory, but with that lineup of awesome names involved, I should probably start. Smoot!

Lol I like that you call it “being on top of things”. Sounds much better then what I call it, which is “amb procrastinates instead of working through lunch”. And I wonder why I never get out of the office early!

I could have sworn the post was schedule to go up the morning of the 9th,whatever happened, I’m glad Amb caught it and posted it. (I was on my way to the airport for a quick 3-day jaunt to SF for reasons you’ll just have to read my millennium conjectures posting on the 14th to find out.) http://www.millenniumconjectures.com

Kaley’s facial expressions during that scene were priceless. In other showbiz news, Mark, did you see when she got to present Jim Parsons with his Golden Globe for the show? One of my favourite award show moments! http://youtu.be/0RE3vJJWZhg

You and I have mentioned this show during our first encounter. And you’re right, there is no number 2.
I have never found a show that has enthralled me for so long and one I never get tired of.
Great post, Mark.
“What the gist,physicist?”